Amtrak, Lionel write essay contest
Children age 12 and under who ride Amtrak’s western trains can win a Lionel toy train set by describing what they like about riding on the train as part of the 10th annual Amtrak Lionel Kid’s Essay Contest.
From the inception of the essay contest, the Amtrak and Lionel partnership has been designed to inspire interest in trains and passenger train travel among children. Over 3,000 children have entered the essay contest in the past 10 years.
Entry forms are now available onboard 11 of Amtrak’s western trains including the California Zephyr, Amtrak Cascades, the Coast Starlight, the Capitol Corridor, the Empire Builder, the Heartland Flyer, the Southwest Chief, the Pacific Surfliner, the Sunset Limited, the San Joaquin and the Texas Eagle.
The trains carrying the entry forms will pass through 14 states from California to Illinois and are available to all riders under the age of 12. Entries may be submitted through August 31.
The Santa Fe El Capitan train set valued at $370 will be awarded to the grand prize winner and a Polar Express train set valued at $330 will be distributed to 14 lucky first place prize winners. Essays will be judged on content and originality. Prizes will be awarded in the fall.